Failed JEE once, now works at YouTube: This Indian man's journey is hitting home
An Indian man's journey from failing JEE to becoming a YouTube Product Manager has gone viral online. Shared by Humans of Bombay, the story highlights exam pressure, career pivots, and the role of family support, striking a deep chord with students and young professionals across the country.
A viral Instagram post is once again making people stop mid-scroll, not because it is extraordinary, but because it feels familiar.
The story of Abhijay Arora, now a Product Manager at YouTube, has been widely shared after appearing on Humans of Bombay.
At its core, it is not just about success. It is about failure, pressure, and figuring things out when nothing seems to work.
THE MOMENT THAT CHANGES EVERYTHING
Like many Indian students, Arora grew up preparing for one exam that seemed to decide everything, the IIT JEE.
His mother, who raised him and his sibling alone, was deeply involved in his studies. He recalls, “From my KG tests to the IIT entrance test, she helped me study During JEE she’d make tea at 4am to keep me awake.”
Then came the result.
“Seeing ‘Failed’ next to my name on the JEE results felt like I had betrayed every sacrifice she ever made.”
That one line explains why the story is resonating so strongly. It captures a feeling many students know but rarely say out loud.
THE ROAD MOST PEOPLE DON’T TALK ABOUT
Instead of repeating the exam cycle, he chose a different path through IIIT Bangalore.
This is where the story starts to shift. Not towards instant success, but towards small wins that build over time. A hackathon victory, a job in Malaysia, financial stability.
Yet, even with a good job, he writes that he felt “stuck”.
That feeling is becoming more common today. Many young professionals tick all the right boxes but still feel like they are not where they want to be.
THE RISK THAT COULD HAVE GONE WRONG
To get closer to his dream of working at Google, he aimed for an Ivy League MBA.
He says consultants told him it was not possible without an IIT background. He went ahead anyway, secured admission, and took a 1 crore loan.
What followed was not a smooth climb.
After graduating, he entered a tough job market with just 90 days to find work. He applied to nearly 100 jobs a week and got nowhere.
“I applied to 100 jobs a week with zero results,” he shared.
WHEN NOTHING WORKS, TRY SOMETHING DIFFERENT
This is where the story takes a turn that feels very 2026.
Instead of sending more applications, he built an AI-based tool to improve his resume. At the same time, he began sharing content about using AI tools for job hunting.
That decision changed things.
His work started getting noticed and eventually opened doors at Google, where he now works on YouTube.
THE PART PEOPLE ARE CONNECTING WITH MOST
While the career journey is impressive, the emotional core of the story is what people are talking about.
He credits two pillars in his life, his mother and his wife.
“She married me when I was jobless and carried our household alone while I faced a mountain of rejections.”
In what many are calling the most powerful moment, he describes taking his mother to the Google office.
“As she looked at my desk and the YouTube logo on the walls, she whispered through tears, ‘Proud of you, beta.’”
WHY THIS STORY IS EVERYWHERE RIGHT NOW
There is no shortage of success stories online. But this one feels different because it does not skip the uncomfortable parts.
It talks about failure without dressing it up. It shows how careers can take unexpected turns. And it reflects the current reality where skills, adaptability, and even AI are reshaping how people get hired.
Most importantly, it reminds readers that behind every “success story” is a long phase where nothing seems to work.
That is the part many are seeing themselves in.